HP OpenVMS Systems

Purpose of FASTPATH_SERVER process?

With OpenVMS 7.2-1, what is the Fastpath_Server
process that shows up doing a show system?
I know this has to do with the the sysgen parameter IO_PREFER_CPUS and
Fast_path, but why does this process run?
Thanks!

The Answer is :

The FASTPATH_SERVER process' job is to balance fast path ports across
available CPUs. Because CPUs can come and go at any time (via the
STOP/CPU or START/CPU DCL commands, or moving a CPU between instances in
a Galaxy configuration), fast path port assignments may need to be
reassigned across the set of available CPUs. The FASTPATH_SERVER
process does this.
As you have noticed, this process is started only when you enable
FAST_PATH on your system. The process is event driven -- when either a
new CPU starts or when a fast path event occurs that requires
reassignment, the process will note the available CPUs and reassign
fast poat ports as necessary. In the absence of these events, the
process hibernates. The system resources consumed by this process are
negligable.